No.
Under any circumstances, the answer to this question is a hard no.
Maybe you’re 45 and worried about the effect on your body, whether martial arts can be ’for you’, or any other unimaginable fear that is holding you back. But fear is the key word here, there has never been a person in history to go through with training and afterwards exclaim - “I can’t believe I just did that, what a horrible experience and effect on my life this has had”.
Your doubts and uncertainties are routed in fear and if I’ve learnt one thing whilst training, it’s that fear is only a boundary to progress, and almost always sanctioned by the mind unnecessarily.
The truth is there are mountains of evidence supporting the positive impacts martial arts can have on your body & mind, regardless of age, and you probably already know that- so any excuse you're leaning on is likely just that- an excuse.
Ask yourself- “what’s the worst that could happen?”… just give it a go, you might just be surprised of what you’re capable of.
This applies to all walks of life, not just fighting or technical ability. I wholeheartedly believe studying martial arts is one of the golden tickets to a greater life, inside and out of the ring.
If for whatever reason you are feeling a pull towards training, do it. It might just be the greatest thing you’ve done for yourself in a long time.
To anyone still on the edge, try train- just once or twice- and see if that makes you reconsider. There is quite literally no harm in trying.
But maybe you have your sights set on a bigger goal, maybe you want to compete, maybe you even want to become a champion. And who’s to say you can’t?
The only thing you need is the faith to keep going.
I wholeheartedly believe it doesn’t matter how much training, talent, or experience you have- if you don’t share the sentiment, you will never be a match for someone with the belief they can do it, and the will to follow through with that belief.
Just try. You have nothing to lose...
There’s a popular notion that gets repeated a lot: “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail”.
I like this phrase, but I much prefer Seth Godin’s take on the adage: “If you knew you were going to fail, what would be worth doing anyway”.
In any given scenario, you either achieve the result you want, or you learn lessons you didn’t even know you needed.
Training martial arts is the pinnacle of this philosophy.
Do not be afraid of failure, you can’t fail if you don’t give up, failure is never final as long as you keep going.
My words however, are not gospel, so I invite you to look into these 5 martial artists who each ‘defied the odds’ and achieved great things, despite their age.
Glover Teixeira (33-9)
Glover Teixeira, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist, began his MMA journey later than most, starting his training in his late 20s. He made his professional debut at the age of 28, and over the years, he solidified his status as one of the most respected and legendary figures in the sport.
Competing at the elite level of the light heavyweight division for over a decade, Teixeira achieved the pinnacle of his career at UFC 267, where he submitted Jan Błachowicz to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. This remarkable achievement made him one of the oldest first-time champions in UFC history. Teixeira retired from MMA in January 2023, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance and excellence.
Yoel Romero (16-7)
Yoel Romero transitioned to MMA at the age of 32 after an illustrious wrestling career, highlighted by an Olympic silver medal.
While his wrestling credentials were world-class, Romero became equally renowned for his explosive athleticism and knockout power. Over his career, he achieved 13 KO victories, showcasing his dynamic striking ability. His skills propelled him to capture the UFC Interim Middleweight Title.
The Cuban powerhouse continues to compete actively, with his most recent victory coming in February 2024 against Thiago Santos.
Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson began his MMA career at the age of 29, proving that a late start didn’t hinder his path to greatness. Over his storied career, Henderson captured multiple titles across several weight classes and organizations, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
In May 1998, Henderson won the UFC Middleweight Tournament. He followed this with an impressive run in PRIDE, claiming the 2005 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix title and the PRIDE Welterweight Championship. In 2007, he added the PRIDE Middleweight Championship to his collection. He later rounded out his championship resume by winning the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title in 2011.
Henderson’s achievements showcase his versatility and dominance across different eras of MMA.
Francis Ngannou (17-3)
Francis Ngannou began his professional MMA career at the age of 26, but it didn’t take long for him to rise to the top. Just eight years after his debut, “The Predator” captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship with a devastating knockout of Stipe Miocic. He successfully defended his title against CirylGane in a hard-fought victory.
After parting ways with the UFC despite being offered improved contract terms, Ngannou joined the PFL, continuing his career as one of the most feared heavyweights in the sport.
Randy Couture (19-11)
Randy Couture began his professional MMA career at the age of 33, defying the odds to become one of the most accomplished fighters in the sport's history.
A true pioneer, Couture was a three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and a two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, making him the first fighter in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes. He also won the UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament, further solidifying his legacy.
Couture retired in 2011 after an illustrious career, concluding with a bout against Lyoto Machida at UFC 129. His contributions to MMA remain a benchmark of excellence and perseverance.
These fighters have 2 things in common:
- They started ‘too late’ to accomplish anything meaningful.
- They did it regardless.
How? They didn’t let fear hold them back.
So ask yourself- Why not me?
